Paul Ryan Runs 'Parallel Policy' Campaign That Could Counter Trump

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is running a campaign that appears designed to help Republicans offer an alternative to the Donald Trump campaign, and could be laying the foundation for the future of the party.

"He is running a parallel policy campaign," said Sen. Tim Scott, a Republican from South Carolina, reports The New York Times.

Ryan's plans could help other Republicans who don't want to run as rank-and-file Trump supporters and his plans for immigration and trade run counter to Trump's. He's also in favor of reforming immigration and opening up free trade, while Trump is in opposition to both.

"I don't think he would use his position as a stick in the eye of Trump, or taunt him," said Peter Wehner, former director of the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives. "But I don't think Ryan would be at all shy about laying out the agenda of the Republican Party, because remember, there are a lot of people voting against Trump out there."

Ryan calls his ideas "Confident America." Despite appearances, Ryan has often said he is not interested in grabbing the presidential nomination if the Republican convention ends up contested.

Ryan is setting himself up as a future candidate in case Republicans lose the race this year, said an analysis in The Week. "He says he doesn't want it, which makes his fans all the more eager."

Ryan is running up against the April 15 deadline to adopt the fiscal budget resolution for 2017, reports Forbes.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has said it is moving forward with the budget even if the resolution has not been passed, but that budget is an unpopular one with the House Freedom Caucus, the most conservative members of the party.

Ryan would need the caucus' support if he seeks to be nominated for president at a contested convention.

According to Forbes, Ryan's plan could be to show that he is protecting the Senate majority this way. With no budget resolution, there would be no debate, so Democrats in the House and Senate will not be able to offer up amendments that could potentially embarrass Republicans.

Ryan continues to support tax cuts for the wealthy, which is one stance that counteracts his apparent support for moderation, said an editorial in Salon.

The extreme positions of Trump and Texas Sen Ted Cruz, the editorial said, makes it easy for Ryan to appear moderate in comparison to them.

Ryan's actions do not appear to have unified the Republicans. "The House and the Senate and the candidate have got to come together," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, who supports Cruz. "If you can't get everyone on board, it makes it harder."

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is running a campaign that appears designed to help Republicans offer an alternative to the Donald Trump campaign, and could be laying the foundation for the future of the party.